From 24 to 27 February 2026, a delegation from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), supported by UNDP Viet Nam, joined regional partners in Iloilo City, the Philippines for a National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP) learning exchange, aimed at accelerating the protection and sustainable management of coastal ecosystems across Southeast Asia.  

The event marked the first gathering of the three pioneering NBCAP countries – Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam, alongside representatives from government agencies, local authorities, international organisations, development partners, academia, and the private sector. The programme aimed to foster policy dialogue, exchange operational best practices, and promote field-based learning from community-centred blue carbon ecosystem conservation models.

On the opening day, in-depth discussions delved into national strategies, legal and regulatory frameworks, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and opportunities for enhanced ASEAN linkage.  Despite differences in national contexts, participants identified four common challenges that require urgent attention: technical limitations in measuring and verifying carbon stocks, the absence of clear regulatory frameworks, difficulties in mobilising long-term financing, and limited technical capacity at the local level.

The exchange also highlighted early achievements and practical initiatives from Indonesia and Philippines in implementing their national blue carbon agenda. To date, both countries have almost completed their National Blue Carbon Action Roadmaps. In February 2026, Indonesia officially launched its National Action Plan for the Protection and Management of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (RENAKSI) 2025–2030, outlining 21 action plans and integrating a dedicated component on long-run financing mechanisms. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is accelerating the standardisation of carbon stock assessment methodologies and strengthening national data database. These efforts include developing Validation Methods Manual for mangrove, seagrass, and coral ecosystem mapping to identify key project sites, alongside the development of a national Blue Carbon Quantification Protocol to ensure transparency and consistency in evaluation methodologies.

For Viet Nam, the experience provides valuable lessons for strengthening inter-sectoral coordination and accelerating the development of a country-led Blue Carbon Action and Financing Roadmaps. The process aims to align blue carbon initiatives with national climate commitments while reinforcing Viet Nam’s proactive role in advancing regional cooperation on coastal ecosystem protection.

The following days included field visits to mangrove conservation and rehabilitation sites in Western Visayas (Region VI). These community-based co-management models, which harmonise ecological science with indigenous knowledge, underscored the vital role of local authorities and communities in protecting coastal ecosystems and while creating sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism and local economic development.

The exchange opened new opportunities for regional cooperation and reaffirmed the shared commitment of Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam to advance blue carbon action through inclusive, science-based, and multi-stakeholder approaches. For Viet Nam, it marks an important step in connecting international knowledge with national development priorities to conserve and restore coastal ecosystems while delivering on climate commitments and sustainable development goals.